Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1887-09-01
BEAR GARDEN.

American weather. From that simple begi in
ming Mr. Erkenbrecher built on until the
"Zoo" of today is the result, owned by stock
company with a capital Of S225 900, which
has spent $3.50 900 on the grounds and their
beautifying and Improvement, and in the pur-
chase of animals for the instruction and
amusement of the people of Cincinnati and
the Ohio valley The feature of the institu-
ton is that it is emphatically not a money
making investment. 1t is expressly provided
that not dollar Of dividends shall ever be
divided among the stockholders, but all prof
its shall be put into Improvements and the
purchase of animals for the garden.
Forty-fve acres of pasture field, out on the
hilltops, some miles from FOu1tain square,
the central point from which all Cincnnatians
begin departure for every place but heaven,
have been transformed into beautiful park
in the thirteen years since the Geological gar
den as fixed institution succeeded to the Ac-
climatization society. In the matter of varie-
ties of trees few parks or gardens in the country
excel yet comparatively little time or money
has been spent in ornamentation, the aim
having been to pay especial attention to the
selection of rare and valuable animals. In
that particular it probably leads all the gar
dens in the United States, while the more
common varieties are, of course, very fully
represented also, from the unwieldy "baby"
hippopotamus down to prairie dogs and
rattlesnakes. Here are to be seen probably
the finest specimens of buffalo in the
world, those late "monarchs of the western
plains" that have been SO recently
hunted out Of existence where they were
supposed to live in countless millions only
few years ago. The great shaggy bull is
nominally valued at S., 900, but he could not
be duplicated for $4,000. Several calves
have been sold and considerable revenue
obtained in that way, but hereafter they will
be kept. The only ground hornbill in Amerl-
ca is kept in big cage in the aviary, a recent
importation from Africa, worth perhaps S3OO
or more but which, in spite of his price, would
have rather suggestion of the vulture and
turkey buzzard in his appearance if twas
not for the gorgeous and unique collection Of
| bric-a-brac carried around on his head and
mostly on his bill, and the formidable name
of Buc. Abyssinius upon his door plate. A
black wolf is another rare animal and proba-
bly, could not be duplicated for any reason
able price-if anybody really wanted mate
to the one here. A couple of great shaggy,
grayish white Polar bears are said to be
worth s., 900 apiece now, though only sixteen
| inches high when brought here. They form
conspicuous part of what is said to be the
finest collection of bears in America, at least
in the United States.
And as for giraffes, the Cincinnati garden
has the largest one in captivity, a mild look
ing aggregation Of long neck and longer legs,
the two of which couldn't be replaced for
$4,000 if they should pass off in a fatal at
tack of quinsy, and which always make
Adam Forepaugh green with envy
when he sees them, as he often does.
A singular feature Of these animals
| is that they are perfectly mute. With such
a length of throat one is at a loss to know
whether inability to give voice to the feelings
| should be source of regret or self gratula-
ton, point on which the giraffe has always
been silent. Despite quiet manners and mild
| looks the giraffe is one of the very worst fel-
| lows to fight that has ever been heard from,
| for he carries on a triangular battle, strik-
| ing with his head simultaneously with bis
| fore feet, while he is kicking with his hind
feet as quickly and as heavily as a half dozen
mules rolled into one Nobody ever cares to
have the second quarrel with giraffe